Hi, I do not know what is expected after my body and brain are clean from the drugs. The long term opiates have induced high blood pressure. The doctor puts me on blood pressure medicine (clonidine) to get me off the opiates,and so everything slows down and instantly I put on the weight. I am clean, but have never been overweight before in my life. I have no energy yet, no ambition yet, and no direction yet. I started using when I was 14 years old, and I am 53 now. I have spent most of my life using. I have bipolar disorder and so I self medicated to get any feeling of "GOOD, unless I was manic. I would still like that "GOOD" feeling, but getting off the opiates was almost the worst experience of my life, so that kind of "GOOD" feeling is not an option anymore. I do not leave my house much cause i am embarrassed to have people see me this way. I believe I may be substituting food for the drugs right now. Any suggestions on turning that around? And what can I expect after being clean for just three weeks after a lifetime of drug use?
Hey Lorraine! Good job working on getting clean,our first goal! We suffer from a disease that has no known cure but it can be arrested and recovery is then possible,THE DISEASE OF 'ADDICTION"".We suffer from a physical,mental and spiritual illness that mainifests itself in all areas of our lives.Once we put down the drug,the symptom of our disease,we have to go to work on the mental and spiritual part of our addiction.For this addict,Narcotics ANonymous has shown me a new way to live guided by the God of my understanding and incorporating "our solution" the spiritual principles of our 'STEPS/TRADITIONS AND EVEN CONCEPTS in the actions and workings of my life.You can find a new way to live and our message is hope and our promise is freedom from active addiction by following suggestions,doing the work and giving back what you are so freely given.There are many different roads to "recovery" Im not talking about abstinence from just the drug,Im talking about freedom from 'ADDICTION". Our message is the same,show up at meetings,listen to learn .learn to listen,follow suggestions,get a sponsor,work the steps(that means incorporate them in your life by a change in old attitudes and behaviors),share as well as you are able,get connected and when you can try and give back to the best of your ability,(even if its greeting at the door,making coffee,working a helpline,all service is important and valuable not only to the other addict but also to yourself,WE KEEP WHAT WE HAVE BY GIVING IT AWAY!!C'mon in from the storm,give yourself a break and take a chance on finding"that new way to live". It can be the best decision you ever made......Peace........
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Our purpose is to remain clean,just for today,and to carry the message of recovery.
For me, getting my body and my brain clean from the drugs was easier than for others. Getting my heart and my soul clean is going to take much longer. I went to my first face to face meeting because I had to. I have to show that I go to at least 2/week as a condition of the treatment program I signed up for. I figured before I even went that it wasn't going to work, and because I am self referred (actually husband referred, lol) to my program, I could just say "I'm not going to do this part of it". I get sooooo much more from the meetings than I do from the group sessions I attend. I am go to a meeting daily, and look forward to going. Who would have thunk it???? People at the meetings have welcomed me. They do not judge me. I am starting to be able to let go of the immense guilt and shame I have been carrying inside me for what seems like forever. I have always believed in a power greater than myself in this world, but could never identify with it. I am now forming a relationship with the"God" of my choice. I am learning that my "God" doesn't have to work for anyone else but me. But more importantly, I have to be willing to follow the lead of my God, my Higher Power. For the first time in I can't remember how long, I have a sense of hope. I feel alive. And it feels good. Without drugs, without alcohol. Do yourself a favor. Go to a meeting. Listen, learn. Mike F. knows what he is talking about and he carries the message well. Peace.
Well just take it one day at a time and theres nothing wrong with being fat i am.But i know what you mean by embaressed and not wanting to go out after i got off meth i gained a lot of weight but i feel so much better about my self then i ever did using. Try and at least eat foods that are not so fating and try to stay away from fast food. You might want to try prying basketball or any kind of sports or exercise subsitute instead of food. Well i hope everything will work out for. And remember take it one day at a time and thank god for keeoing you clean that day.
-- Edited by 49erman on Friday 28th of January 2011 09:30:12 PM
well my girlfriend feels the same way she stopped doing drugs and gained alot of weight she realy feels miserable i tell her not to worry she looks healthy now instead of sucked up so hang in there you cant look that bad.
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